Signs Your Carpet Is Too Old

While proper care and maintenance can help prolong the lifespan of your carpet, it’s only a matter of time before everyday wear takes its toll and it needs to be replaced.

Old carpet doesn’t just look untidy, it can also be a health hazard to you and your family, housing harmful bacteria and triggering allergy symptoms. From stains and damage to odours and allergies, there are a few tell-tale signs that you need to say goodbye to your carpet.

If you’re not sure whether your carpet is too old, these signs will help you determine whether it’s due for a replacement.

Permanent Stains in Carpet

Whether you dropped some spaghetti or knocked over your morning brew, even treated carpets aren’t safe from stains. While no carpet is stain-proof, some stains can be removed with the use of stain-removal products, or by hiring a professional carpet cleaner.

If a carpet has permanent stains caused by bodily fluids (blood, vomit, and other biological substances), mould, or mildew, it can become a health hazard and should be replaced.

Damaged Carpet

It’s normal for carpet to show signs of everyday wear and tear over time, but if your carpet’s damages are too severe to repair, it can be dangerous. Rips and tears can cause trips and falls, especially in high-traffic areas.

Severe damage, whether it’s from general wear or from an incident such as being burnt, cut or ripped, is a sign that your carpet is no longer resilient or strong enough to last any longer, and it should be replaced.

Another reason why you might like to replace damaged carpet is because of the aesthetic. Torn, burnt or frayed carpet can look untidy and affect the overall appearance of your home. It’s best to replace your damaged carpet to ensure a safe and smart environment.

Lingering Odour from your Carpet

Household odours in carpet are inevitable, but if your carpet smells bad, it could be a sign of a more serious problem such as mould or mildew growth.

You can normally remove odours with a thorough cleaning or carpet deodorisers. Natural cleaning solutions such as vinegar and bicarb soda can also help to remove or mask smells.

If a thorough cleaning doesn’t eliminate unpleasant odours, or if the odours are so strong you’d need to spend more money to get rid of them than to replace the carpet, it’s time for a replacement.

Check Your Carpet Padding

Carpet padding is the foundation of a carpet, providing support, cushioning, and insulation, but it can often be overlooked. Carpet cleaning doesn’t necessarily clean the padding. This can make your carpet padding wear out faster than your carpet.

Even if the surface of your carpet looks fine, it’s important to check your carpet padding for signs of ageing or damage. If your padding is old, uneven, wrinkled, or cracked, the carpet should be replaced.

Allergy Symptoms on the Rise

Carpets can be a breeding ground for dust mites and bacteria. The older the carpet gets, the more it catches and retains nasty substances that can trigger allergies and asthma.

If you find yourself suffering from allergy symptoms more regularly, your carpet could be to blame. Professional carpet steam cleaning can remove dust mites and allergens, but if your symptoms are returning, it might be time for new carpet.

Check out our infographic to learn more about what’s living deep inside your carpets!

How old is your carpet?

With the right care and maintenance, most manufacturers say carpets can last up to 10 years, but the average lifespan is generally 3-5 years in the average household with 4 residents.

After this time, thorough cleaning may no longer be effective because the carpet is too old, and it should be replaced. The lifespan of your carpet will probably be even less if your home has kids or pets.

If you’re still rocking that shag carpet from the ‘70s, it’s time for an upgrade!

How to Remove Old Carpet

If you have the time and elbow grease, removing old carpet yourself is actually pretty simple, and could save you a pretty penny. Follow these steps to remove your old carpet before getting your new carpet installed.

You’ll need:

Gloves

A box-cutting knife

Pliers

Putty knife.

Follow these steps to remove your old carpet:

1. Cut a strip in the corner of the carpet and pull the corner up. Use your pliers to remove any tacks along the way.
2. Continue to cut the carpet into strips to make it easier to lift and remove the carpet. If you have a couple of people to help you lift it, you can simply roll the carpet up as you go.
3. Once you’ve removed the carpet, do the same with the padding underneath, using the pliers to pull any tacks.
4. You may need to use a putty knife to get rid of any padding left behind.